Dispatch, renowned for its investigative journalism, shed light on the fraudulent activities of T-ara Areum’s boyfriend, Seo Dong-hoon, in an article titled “Areum, the truth behind the fraud,” released on April 1st. The revelations of Seo’s criminal record exposed his involvement in fraud, threatening behaviour, and sexual violence.
According to Dispatch, Seo was convicted and sentenced to two and a half years in prison in May 2021, following charges brought forth by three women, including his ex-girlfriend. After his release from prison in September 2023, Seo begins his new path as a writer, subsequently crossing paths with T-ara’s Areum in October of the same year.
The investigation shows that Areum and Seo solicited money from acquaintances and fans under false pretences, leveraging treatment fees for Areum’s children as an excuse. Dispatch highlighted their deceptive tactics, including fabricating stories and presenting photos taken at hospitals to solicit sympathy and financial aid.
Despite rumours circulating about Seo’s criminal history before their relationship, Areum vehemently defended him, dismissing allegations as baseless and attributing them to malicious comments. However, following the emergence of rumours surrounding Seo’s fraudulent activities, Areum announced the suspension of her Instagram activities on March 31st, subsequently deleting her account.
In response to allegations of borrowing money from Instagram followers, Areum claimed her account was hacked. The former T-ara member, who joined the group in July 2022 and left after a year, has been embroiled in controversy since her divorce announcement in December 2023 and subsequent plans to remarry Seo Dong-hoon.
Lastly, Areum shocked the public on March 29th by attempting an extreme choice. After regaining consciousness, she expressed her intent to pursue legal action against suspicions surrounding her and her boyfriend, emphasizing her commitment to addressing the situation through legal means
